Waugh's top dad

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Steve Waugh thought they had the wrong man when he was told he
was to be the 2005 Australian Father Of The Year.

The phone call came on a hectic morning of babysitting for the
40-year-old former Australian cricket captain.

"It was 10.30 in the morning and I looked across at Lilli and
her hair was all matted, she had her pyjamas on, she had food all
over her face, and I'd just got her breakfast for her, which was
four slices of fairy bread," Waugh told the annual Father's Day
luncheon at NSW Parliament House.

"I thought, 'I'm not sure they've got the right guy here'."

It was a rare weak moment for Waugh, who says leading the
Australian cricket team was a breeze compared to being a dad to
three young children.

"I really love being a dad to these three kids. I think it's the
biggest challenge in my life," he said.

"Captaining a cricket side was great fun, but I think being a
father is a tough job, there's more challenges out there."

Waugh's wife Lynette has appreciated her husband's hands-on
approach to fatherhood since his retirement from cricket in
2004.

But she added: "Even though he was away, he wasn't an absent
father."

Waugh believes this Sunday will be the first Father's Day he's
spent at home with his kids, and plans to cook pancakes with
three-year-old Lilli, nine-year-old daughter Rosie and
five-year-old son Austin.

On top of his dedication to his family, Waugh also supports
disadvantaged youth around the world, making him the perfect role
model, the Australian Father's Day Council said.

Waugh, Australian of the Year in 2004, supports disadvantaged
youth through the Steve Waugh Foundation, and is a patron for Camp
Quality and the Spastic Centre of NSW.

He also is well known for his contributions to schools for
disadvantaged children in India.

Like cricket, though, Waugh says raising a family is a team
effort.

And he is modest in accepting the Australian Father's Day
Council annual honour.

"While I was away for a lot of years playing cricket, (Lynette)
was basically the lone parent. So I congratulate Lynette, this
award is probably more for you than me."